East Cape (Ngati Porou), Aotearoa New Zealand
Hicks Bay Motel Lodge
About this stay
Hicks Bay Motel Lodge overlooks Hicks Bay near the top of the East Cape, in Ngāti Porou country, looking out over the bay and the Pacific. It has a wide range of rooms, from self-catering one- and two-bedroom units to studios, a bunk room and powered sites, plus a restaurant. The East Cape lighthouse, the easternmost in New Zealand and a popular sunrise spot, is a drive away via Te Araroa. It suits road-trippers circling the cape and anyone looking for a simple, affordable stop.
Good for
About East Cape (Ngati Porou)
The East Cape, or Tairāwhiti, is the rugged bulge of land between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne, traced by State Highway 35 for roughly 330 kilometres. It suits self-sufficient travellers who want long empty beaches, small settlements and real distance from crowds. Compared with the Bay of Islands or Rotorua there are few organised attractions, limited services and long stretches between towns, which is much of its appeal.
Getting there
Gisborne Airport (GIS) has Air New Zealand flights from Auckland and Wellington. From there the coast road heads north. Coming from the Bay of Plenty side, Ōpōtiki is about two hours' drive from Rotorua, and the full loop around the cape takes at least two unhurried days.